No bugs, birds, snakes, worms or mammals were harmed in its execution.
Musings, thoughts, concepts, politics, junk science, atheists pretending they don't have a religion, fact or fiction, truth or opinion.
Why is there so LITTLE critical thinking that we don't realize WHEN we are being misled by biased individuals who have sucked us in to believing their ideas?
This is one very simple attempt to bring SOME balance in an unbalanced age.

Search This Blog

FrontPage Magazine » FrontPage

REASON

Atheists often use the word "Reason" as if they own it and everything else is UN-reasonable. However this could not be further from the truth.

Without Christianity, and our roots in Judaism, the world would be a much sadder, less hospitable, crueler place. You might think of some evil also done in the name of Christianity. True, any human being is fallible and makes mistakes. If you meet anyone that claims they have NEVER made a mistake, then in front of you they have committed their first ..... lying!

How has Judaeo-Christianity Influenced the World? A brief History

Western civilization was built by Christianity

Most advances and inventions were conceived in the Western world

The Ten Commandments are the basis of law in all democratic countries

The West was built on two pillars, Athens [classical civilization] and Jerusalem

Classical civilization was infused with barbarous practices like pederasty and slavery

Romegrew weak and decadent

The Dark Ages were the result of this decadence

Classical Rome was smashed by the Hun, Goth, Vandal and Visigoth barbarians

The barbarians later converted to Christianity and became a more civilized and less rude people

Christianity gave order, stability and dignity

Monks copied and studied manuscripts that preserved the learning of late antiquity. Without their work we would know little of this time period.

Monasteries became the locus and productivity throughout Europe [read Dawson, Christopher, "Religion and Rise of Western Culture"

Wastelands became hamlets, then towns and eventually commonwealths and cities

The savage barbarian warriors became the chivalric Christian knight and new ideals of civility, manners and romance were formed

Christianity is the basis of our laws, economics, politics, arts, the calendar, our holidays and our moral and cultural priorities [Roberts, J.M. "The Triumph of the West"]

Art flourished and brought forth Michaelangelo's Pieta, and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper and Rembrandt's Christ at Emmaeus andSimon in the Temple

Venice displays the spectacular murals of Veronese, Titian and Tintoretto

What would classical Western music be without Handel'sMessiah, Mozart's Requiem and the soaring compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach?

Gothic cathedrals last as a present testament to the influence of historical Christianity

What would Western literature be without Dante, Milton and Shakespeare?

Christianity gave the aforementioned men's genius its distinctive expression

Even famous atheists like Voltaire and Nietzsche were educated by Jesuits and Nietzche'sfather who was a pastor, Nietzche's autobiography reflects the reference of Pilate regarding Christ when he said "behold the man"

Even the word "secular" is of Christian origin and was invented as a name to call priests who lived in a parish

Secular values may have been severed from their original source, but they too are of Christian origin

All of these roots of our Western culture had Christian teaching, inspiration and influence.

In attempting to remove it, many have thrown out the baby AND the bathwater

Separation of church and government was a Christian idea to prevent the state from interfering with the church. Some who are ignorant of history have confused the concept making it often into the OPPOSITE to what it was intended, in other words, the state OFTEN interferes with the practise of religion instead of allowing the church to be separate from the state. It is interesting how the communistic countries went to great lengths to expunge every religious influence and even history from their culture. Sadly that same pattern is reappearing in our own supposedly democratic Western society. Textbooks of history in the U.S. for example often leave out how the country was first established because the Pilgrims were religious figures, so they are left out. [Stalin applauds.]

The very idea of the state staying out of religious affairs came from Jesus saying after he asked for a coin "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's"

That idea was a unique concept as most classical cultures had religion tied in with the state. Greeks worshiped Greek gods; Romans worshiped Roman Gods and eventually even the Caesar

Monotheism was a concept mainly coming out of Judaism and Christianity

In Judaic law, God's law extended to every sphere and society of life. The same is true of Islamic tradition

However Jesus separated the state and religion by the famous quotation given previously

The idea of "limited government" came through this same teaching of Yeshua [anglicized Jesus] which extended to private property

In Judaeo-Christian teaching, God gave freedom to individuals to do as they wish even if it is to leave his teachings. In fact when atheists talk about being free to do what they want, little do they know the concept originally came from the very thing they negate, God! Remember the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve were not compelled to follow. They were asked.

Early modern thinkers like John Locke invented the concept of religious tolerance as they realized that a forced obedience of practise of Christianity results in a weak church. The centuries have seen we see today with some churches "Christian" in name but anything but in belief

Part 2 - The Affirmation of Ordinary Life-Another idea which derives from Christianity

The idea is simply that ordinary people are fallible and yet these fallible people matter.

In this view, society should be organized to meet the ordinary fallible person's needs which are part of a spiritual framework.

"The nuclear family, the idea of limited government, the Western concept of the rule of law, and our culture's high emphasis on the relief of suffering all come from this basic Christian understanding of the dignity of fallible human beings." (Dinesh D'Souza)

To understand this idea we need to look at two ideas.

"For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that i do." St. Paul's statement to the Romans

Plato's idea that the problem of evil is a problem of knowledge. People do wrong because they do not know what is right. If they knew what was right, obviously they would do it.

Paul's statement completely dismisses the tradition of classical philosophy founded in Plato.

Paul denies that idea by stating that even when we know right, as fallible human beings we often do wrong. Why? Because our will is corrupt and we often do what we feel like doing regardless of what we know.

The Common Man is Important

Christian principles also elevate the low man, the common man and the underdog contrary to classical philosophers like Aristotle or authors like Homer.

Aristotle believed that these men were destined to be the slaves of powerful men. Homer ignored them in his epics, concentrating totally on the ruling class. Lesser men appeared only as servants.

Jesus was NOT such a man. He was born of humble circumstances in a stable and lived most of his life as a carpenter's apprentice. He traveled usually by foot and occasionally by donkey.

We could travel back in his family history and see that he was in the line of descent of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth was NOT a Jew but a Moabitess who gave up her life with the baby-sacrificing people to be a friend to Naomi. Boaz was in the direct line of descent of a prostitute who saved Israeli spies from the evil intentions of her fellow city-dwellers. And yet Jesus, better known in that day as Yeshua came from the union of a stranger to the Jews and a prostitute. Hardly a reference to include on a resumé!

From the example of Jesus, came a change in the worldview. Instead of looking up to men of noble birth and high status, Jesus picked fishermen and tax collectors to spread the good news to the world.

Thus began a change in society that the common man was as worthy of a special life and a special purpose as haughty aristocrats.

One of those changes was the idea that marriage and family were entrusted to the common man.

By contrast in ancient Greece, often touted by atheists as the pinnacle of knowledge, the family was NOT considered very important.

Plato proposed the abolition of marriage and family which was to be turned over to the state. Aristotle recognized the need for the family but denigrated the institution as not very complete or noble. It was for procreation. Marriages were arranged and the husband and wife were not even expected to be friends. Aristotle believed that women were largely incapable of friendship.

Homosexuality was common in Athens and notorious in Sparta as it was encouraged in gymnasiums and used to build solidarity among soldiers in war.

Pederasty, which today we would call pedophilia, relations between men and boys were more favored than between relations between men of the same age. The idea promulgated was that the boy agreed to sexual relations and in return he would receive knowledge and tutoring.

We can admire the great achievements of Greece and Rome but we need to keep in mind that along with them the sexual practises of that day live on mainly in prisons and by marginal groups like the Man/Boy Love Association.

In the Christian era, homosexuality and pederasty were considered sinful.Christianity elevated the heterogeneous monogamous love which would provide the basis for the lasting and exclusive relationship between husband and wife to provide for child-rearing.

These premises were introduced by Christianity into a society to which they were completely foreign and yet have lasted in general to this day.

Romantic Love and the Choice

Second, romantic love, began to be the alternative basis for getting married and for preserving a happy marriage.

Third, the idea of choice, was introduced, while arranged marriages by the rich continued for some time, the alternative of men and women choosing their own mates for life became more and more common. As imperfect societies these ideas may have become shallow compared to the commitments when first introduced but still it forms the basis of Western culture for hundreds of years.

These society-changing ideas were introduced as Christianity spread throughout the Western world.

Servant Leadership, Progress & MoralityAlong with them came the idea of servant leadership, that the elected officials of government actually are to work for the betterment of the common man. A far cry from the aristocracy of the rich and powerful in Greece and Rome.

Francis Bacon and Descartes called for a technological system in which man masters and possesses nature but not in a harmful way but considered the recovering of the Garden of Eden.

Locke defended the idea of property rights and cultivation of nature as an imitation of God the creator. Progress, the idea of things constantly getting better over time were an extension of the God-image in man.

Moral ideas based on scripture like the abolition of slavery have started and continue to spread through most of the world seen as progress in morality. Perhaps future generations will become morally enlightened enough to take better care of the planet and cease killing the unborn.

Compassion, a concept demonstrated by Yeshua for lepers, the poor, the needy, the sick and the blind developed and spread throughout the world along with Christian missionaries of many kinds.

So it is not unusual in Western societies to help other countries in time of famine, or flood, quakes or eruptions where some other cultures stand by unconcerned but those originally coming from a Christian heritage are usually first on the scene. I also have to mention the state of Israel, much maligned by the ignorant, the hate-mongers and the prejudiced, was among the first to reach Haiti in the recent quakes in 2010 and in many other areas around the world where disasters such as tsunamis have occurred.

This makes absolute sense as the root of Christianity is Judaism. We did not get all of our Christian concepts directly from Jesus Christ but often from the example of his Jewish race.

The Christian concept of compassion for others known or not around the world, has also included building the first hospitals, groups like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, the YMCA all originally were based on the Christian concept of compassion for all.

Nowhere else not in any religions or in secular society do we find anything like this. It is not just Christians who acknowledge that this Western faith has done an incredible amount to improve human life and reduce human suffering.

==================================================================The Influence of Christianity on Early Science [next]

Rules for Comments

We do not publish ANY links which do not have reasons for going to the link.

You should give your evidence to support your idea and then show a link which backs you up. But just putting in a link and saying "go here to see what I mean".

We do not publish ad hominem attacks, insults, insulting labels or stereotypes. In seeking truth, one does not find it by these immature and primitive methods.

A Common Method of Presenting Evidence

1. State your opinion

2. State your reason

3. Give any specific references you wish which support your point of view. Example of insulting ad hominem attack statement. "Atheists are all hypocrites and use insults when they cannot be present indisputable evidence."

What is wrong? 1. You do not know all atheists and therefore cannot make any statements about all of them.

You could say something like, "The atheists I have had discussions with criticize others and yet do the same things they criticize others for." "Most atheists whose comments I read stereotype all people who believe in Christianity, Judaism or any other form of religion except their own Atheist religion". 2. Calling people names is an ad hominem attack. 3. Putting all people of one group together and making statements about them is a stereotype.

Sound argument is backed by evidence not throwing insults which are like "supposed adults" throwing stones at someone like a kid would.

Intelligent Design Network :: Seeking Objectivity in Origins Science

The Amazing Kindle !

Some recommend the more expensive 3G Kindle in order to reach the internet wherever you are to download new books.

Email Required

I have chosen to require a Google account. This is to help prevent mindless comments which need not be considered by those who have one.

I promise I will keep your personal information secret and only use it for purpose of communicating with YOU personally. If what you have to say is important then you should have no objection. If it is a haphazard comment, then perhaps it does not deserve to be published anyway.

Not to discourage but we need to be able to tell you directly why your comment was not published so you can bring it up to the acceptable standards for this site.

Flaming is not allowed. Emotional baggage should be left at home or on the psychiatrists couch. If you cannot speak civilly without it, then perhaps look into fixing that first and come back. We are not referring to mild teasing.

Comments with no evidence that require me to simply believe in the faith of you saying it will NOT be published. Anyone can have their opinion but we are looking for facts when we discuss factual topics such as atheism and ID.

Flaming includes insults, sarcasm, and resorting to emotional outbursts to avoid answering a point. There can be no reasonable discussion with someone who has a flamethrower aimed at you (:-)

I will NOT as Dawkins.net does, reject your comment simply because you disagree. However REASONS must be given for your disagreement. Don't make me take a leap of faith to believe you unless of course your name is Yeshua of 1st century fame.

Yes we value your comments provided they are civil. If the Google thing does not require an email address I will require registration so I can communicate with you.

Thank you! Have a great day and I hope to hear from you!

Christian Bloggers Network

I Promise

I promise to place here ONLY links from Amazon.ca or other locations which I have read or used myself and I personally recommend them. In the case of product links, all links will be the best products from my research and years of doing computers. .... CharlesFor more recommendations and freebies, see CPEDLEY.COM

Why Make The Same Mistakes?

My hope is that if you see mistakes which I have made, you will NOT have to make them yourself.

Learn! Make your own mistakes. Or better yet, don't!

Nobody has yet paid me for any of these writings so I am not trying to please anyone except the author of truth and me.

Hope you like them but if you don't, that's okay. Someday when you get older, you will ..... (:-) It's a joke! Or ...... maybe not.

Soul Shepherding

Search Canada

Canadian Product

Canadian Links

US Links

Canadian Links Below

What's So Great About Christianity?

Kindle Edition

A Must for Parents & Educators & University-Bound Students !

Plaxo Badge

Rules for Civilized Discussion

[These are some rules which are accepted here as being fair and balanced. It is also why we may delete and not publish your comments if you break them. It is only fair that readers do not have to see a lot of personal psychological drivvle in trying to see both sides of an argument.]]

Good Advice For Discussion

Realize that a dialogue should not be about you, the opponent, the turf, or the superiority but about making the right decision. Accept the fact that you just might be wrong and treat the opposition with respect.

There are two parts to every argument: A position and a bunch of points that support it. Always separate them and be clear on them both. “I support solution A. The reasons for my recommendation are as follows…” On the flip side, learn to identify and separate these two parts in your opponent’s argument. If you can’t do so reliably, ask for clarification.

Never accept an argument that you don’t understand. Ask for clarification.

To each decision, there are objectives (what we want to achieve) and alternatives (how we can achieve it). Are you disagreeing on the objectives or on the alternatives? Make it clear and ask the opponent to clarify their position. This is very important as often there is a lengthy raging battle over easily reconcilable implementation preferences.

Not to belabor this, but…choose the language both you and your opponent understand.

When you make your point, nothing is as effective as the masterful command of the language and use of relevant examples and metaphors.

Often, your opponent will pass his beliefs and opinions for an unquestionable truth. So, be on guard for and readily reject ad hominem attacks (when your opponent targets your persona and not your argument). For example: “I don’t see how this approach can ever work, coming from someone who can’t control his weight, let alone an initiative of this importance!”

Watch out for arguments that say that something is right just because it is either new or old. These are known as ad novitam and ad antiquamarguments.

Don’t fall for arguments that rely on wide acceptance and popularity. What’s right for many is not necessarily right for you, even if the others are in the same industry, market, or building.

Beware of the straw man attacks, which happen when the opposition objects not to your position but to a similar but much weaker and sometimes ridiculous one. For instance, you say: “I am of the opinion that this application will not resolve the issue, because…” Your opponent retorts, ignoring your argument: “Julie, of all people, I wouldn’t expect to hear it from the CIO that high technology is not the way to go!”

Red herring anyone? Watch for arguments with little to no connection to the issue at stake, which are introduced to misdirect the attention of you and the rest of the audience. This also often happens inadvertently.

Sometimes you may lose on the basis of unobtainable perfection. Your way may be the best available but not perfect, while “perfect” is either out of the question or not viable, such as due to prohibitive costs. When you feel that the conversation has fallen into this rut, call a spade a spade, invite the other party to acknowledge that perfection is not possible, and talk about mitigation of the imperfections. You may still lose this battle, but you’ll know you have done your best.

You have probably noticed that in a number of points I advised you to “watch out” or “beware of” or to “be on guard” against various acts of chicanery. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t commit these transgressions either. The Golden Rule applies.

Fair Use Provision

All material here is used for educational purposes only.Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Original material is copyright Charles Pedley and the Pedley Foundation. It may be used by third parties subject only to credit being given to Charles Pedley and a link to http://charlespedley.blogspot.com